About This Lesson
Use Pointing and Belonging to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
这是什么？
zhè shì shénme What is this?
B
那是什么？
nà shì shénme What is that?
A
那是谁？
nà shì shéi Who is that?
B
哪一个是你的？
nǎ yí ge shì nǐ de Which one is yours?
A
这个是我的。
zhè ge shì wǒ de This one is mine.
B
那个是你的。
nà ge shì nǐ de That one is yours.Word by Word
这
这 means “this” and points to something near the speaker, as in “这是什么？” and “这个是我的。” It is used before 是 to ask about or identify something nearby. A useful reuse pattern is 这是什么？ when asking what a nearby object is.
是
是 means “is” and links the thing or person being identified with the requested or given information, as in “这是什么？” and “那是谁？” It also links an item with its owner in “这个是我的。” A useful reuse pattern is X是Y, such as the new example 这是书。
什么
什么 means “what” in “这是什么？” and “那是什么？” It asks for the identity or description of the thing pointed to by 这 or 那. Use the pattern 这是什么？ or 那是什么？ when asking about an object.
那
那 means “that” and points to something or someone farther away or already indicated, as in “那是什么？” and “那是谁？” It can come before 是 to ask what or who that refers to. A useful reuse pattern is 那是什么？ when asking about a distant object.
谁
谁 means “who” in “那是谁？” and asks for the identity of a person. Here, 谁 follows 是 because the speaker is asking which person 那 refers to. Use 那是谁？ when asking who someone is.
哪
哪 contributes the meaning “which” in “哪一个是你的？” It introduces a choice among possible items, while 一个 identifies the selected item as one. Use the pattern 哪一个是你的？ when asking someone to select the item that belongs to them.
一个
一个 means “one” or “the one being selected” in “哪一个是你的？” Here, it refers to one item from a group of possible items. A useful reuse pattern is 哪一个 + 是 + ownership information, as in the new example 哪一个是我的？
你
你 means “you” in “你的” and refers to the person who owns the item. In this dialogue, it appears before 的 to form “你的”, meaning “yours”. Use 你的 before or after the relevant ownership construction when referring to something belonging to the listener.
的
的 marks the possessive relationship in “你的” and “我的”. In “哪一个是你的？”, it shows that the selected item belongs to 你; in “这个是我的。”, it shows that the item belongs to 我. Use the pattern pronoun + 的 to express ownership, as in the new example 这是你的。
个
个 is the classifier used in “这个”, “那个”, and “哪一个” for the item being pointed to or selected. It combines with 这, 那, or 哪 to form expressions meaning “this one”, “that one”, or “which one”. Use these forms when choosing or identifying one item among others.
我
我 means “I” or “me” in “我的” and refers to the speaker who owns the item. It appears before 的 to form “我的”, meaning “mine”, as in “这个是我的。” Use 我的 when identifying something as belonging to the speaker.
Grammar Points
疑问词留在句中原来的位置
这是什么？
zhè shì shénmeWhat is this?
中文疑问词通常留在答案所在的位置，不像英语常移到句首。
哪一个是你的？
哪一个是你的？
nǎ yí ge shì nǐ deWhich one is yours?
“是”连接“哪一个”和“你的”，构成“Which one is yours?”的判断句。
Chinese Vocabulary
哪一个
pron
nǎ yí ge
which one
那
pron
nà
that
那个
pron
nà ge
that one
你的
pron
nǐ de
yours
谁
pron
shéi
who
什么
pron
shénme
what
是
verb
shì
is; be
我的
pron
wǒ de
mine
这
pron
zhè
this
这个
pron
zhè ge
this one
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
that one
Show Answer
那个this one
Show Answer
这个what
Show Answer
什么mine